TESI Niu is not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, even though he is behind enemy lines.
For the Leigh centre is a Leopard all the time – and Friday’s Super League semi-final at Wigan will not see him hide it.
2
Niu lives in the Hindley Green area of the town while playing for the other side of the Battle of the Borough.
Now he can leave many on his street feeling glum on Friday by helping his side to Old Trafford and the Grand Final for the first time.
Hopefully with fewer nerves than the season opener at Wigan, which ended 1-0 to Leigh after extra time!
“I’ll just live my normal life,” insisted Tongan ace Niu, 24. “I must admit, I don’t really talk to my neighbours. I just keep to me and my kids and my family.
“But that 1-0 game, my first, laid a platform for our season really. Now, we’ve just got to do us – but another 1-0 win would do nicely.
“That night defences were on top and it’s going to be like that again on Friday, so we’ve got to be ready for anything.
“Even though I don’t really look into our matches, I’ve learned a bit about the rivalry between Wigan and Leigh.
“And reaching Old Trafford is the main goal. It always has been.”
Leigh earned their last four spot by seeing off Wakefield 26-10 – now to head nine miles up the road for a crack at the Warriors.
And Niu knows what Adrian Lam’s men must do if they are to make the Grand Final – the same as they have for 28 matches so far.
He added: “It’s been a big journey, but it’s not done yet so. This week is a big week, though.
“Against Wakefield, we just needed to run hard, tackle hard and play our own game.
2
“In play-offs, you don’t want to do anything you haven’t been doing all season, so basically it’s our main game plan that’s got us to this point.”
While Niu and his team-mates do the business on the pitch, the man guiding them is no longer the daddy, he is the granddaddy.
And having little Luleiya next to him is proof to Lam he has made the right decision to coach Leigh, with son Lachlan their star.
“Since seeing her, I’ve been quite emotional about it, quite teary, because I can’t believe it,” said the boss.
“But that’s life and I know it’s part of the process. She’s just adorable and I’m in love with her.
“So I’m looking forward to watching her grow and it’s a great thing as well that I’ve got my son over here in the UK playing in my team and being able to enjoy these moments.”
